Rod V. Lenz, 81
Rod V. Lenz passed away peacefully on Dec. 2, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with his wife Sandie by his side.
Rod was born Jan. 12, 1939 in Spokane to Fred and Vivian Lenz. His early years were spent in Plains, Montana, Florida and California where he played football at Culver City High School.
Rod enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955, completing submarine qualification before volunteering for Basic Underwater Demolition School. Following training, he was assigned to Underwater Demolition Team FIVE and served in the Korean conflict. After leaving the Navy, he went to work for the Washington State Highway Patrol. He then followed in his father’s footsteps, going to work for Northern Pacific Railroad, which became the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).
Rod studied forestry at the University of Montana in Missoula and became a timber buyer; working throughout the Pacific Northwest inspecting railroad ties at the tie yard in Somers until its closure in 1986. The BN then moved him and his family to railroad tie plants in Columbus, Mississippi and Galesburg, Illinois, where he became the chief material and timber inspector. Retiring after 30 years with the Burlington Northern, Rod and Sandie returned to Lakeside to build their dream home and raise horses.
Throughout the years Rod was actively involved with Shriners International where he participated in parades and Shrine Circuses as a clown; all helping to raise money for the hospitals and burn centers, but most important to him was bringing smiles to children’s faces. He also loved hunting and being in the woods of Montana.
Rod was preceded in death by his father Frederick Rourke Lenz, mother Vivian Hume, and brother William “Bill” Lenz.
He is survived by his wife, Sandie (Rufenach), of 37 years; daughter Kate and husband Dan Sharon, son Rick and wife Lorri Lenz, son Colby and wife Jessica Lenz, grandchildren Jenny Hawthorne, Zach and Jacob Sharon, Colton and Shawna Lenz, Trace, Bristol, and Chance Lenz and Madison Gilchrist; also great-grandchildren Parker and Bodie Hawthorne; brothers and their spouses Randy and Debbie Lenz, Jeff and Cindy Lenz, and his sisters and their spouses Vickie and Tom Bohannon, Peggy and Michael Clough, Melanie and Bob Smith, and many nieces and nephews.
If you would like to make a donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children in memory of Rod, please go to https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/RodLenz
Friends and family are encouraged to visit www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.